Cricket: Is it a hattrick first in the world?

Manawatu Under-13 cricketer Jaiden Meyer (left) claimed a hattrick before falling victim to a hattrick from Napier rep side bowler Ryan Jones at Nelson Park, Napier, on Monday. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

UNLESS someone can come up officially with bona fide results to counter it, it's safe to declare that the annual Riverbend Cricket Camp in Hawke's Bay can claim a world first after a hattrick bowler became a hattrick victim in the same game on the same day of a 45-over affair.

It happened to Jaiden Meyer, of Palmerston North, at Nelson Park No 2, Napier, on Monday, January 23, 2017, and, yes, you read it first in Hawke's Bay Today.

Meyer, playing for Manawatu U13s, claimed a hattrick of wickets against a Napier representative side in the Year 7-8 grade of the annual tournament to help his side contain the opposition to 204 all out with two balls to spare.

However, the Year 8-bound Palmerston North Intermediate School pupil found himself facing Napier right-arm medium pacer Ryan Jones on a hattrick delivery as the No 7 batsman.

Meyer certainly heard the death rattle and his team were skittled for 82 in 25.3 overs.

"I was stunned when I was bowled. I just didn't watch the ball," says the 12-year-old right-arm medium-pacer who had claimed the magical three consecutive scalps in the 25th over at first change.

"I'm a little disappointed but I'm happy at the same time," he says with a smile after bowling two Napier middle-order batsmen in the last two balls of his second over before creating history from the opening delivery of his third over when fielder Michael Watkins caught the batsman on the boundary.

Myer was "kind of stunned" but "reassessed the situation" to run to Watkins to exchange high fives.

His parents, Vicky and Jason, were among the spectators humming on the sidelines.
Napier Boys' High School-bound Jones claimed his victims, No 5-No 7 Manawatu batsmen, in the 20th over of the innings.

The 13-year-old former Napier Intermediate pupil struck in the last three balls of his fourth over, all clean bowled.

"I had bowled the last ball and didn't realise it was a hattrick until everyone started shouting," says the youngster who celebrated with a restaurant dinner.

That feat trumped another camp first on Sunday in the same grade with tourney organiser Craig Findlay never having seen two hattricks in one day in his 15-year stint.

First-year Cambridge coach Gareth Price, who had seen two hattricks as a parent in the four previous years, had the best seat in the house at Windsor Park No 1 as umpire when fast bowler Josh Lawrey claim 3 for 9 in the seven-wicket victory over Onslow (Wellington).

The 10-year-old Year 5 pupil from St Peter's Catholic School moulded a hattrick from the second ball of his third over in deflating the enthusiasm of batsmen No 7-No 9.

Lawrey had sat on a hattrick a couple times before but hadn't realised the dream.

"It felt like you're on an international stage and the whole crowd supporting you so I enjoyed it," says the youngster whose parents Lyn and Paul, were watching with his grandparents visiting from England to watch him play and gift him chocolate and fizzy drinks to celebrate.

Lawrey says family and coach support are essential for his success.

He sees the camp as an ideal platform to hone his skills in the hope "it all pays off in the future".

"It's a team sport and I couldn't have done it without their encouragement and support."

That Sunday, Western Bay of Plenty bowler Tayte Marsh's 5 for 7 included a hattrick in a seven-wicket victory over Wellington Collegians at Windsor Park No 3.

Fourth-year Western BOP coach Andrew Templar says it's an "awesome experience".

"He was in the zone and just wanted the ball. He's one of those kids," says Templar although he feels it was tough going for batsmen on a day the ball had prodigious swing.

Marsh, of St Mary's School in Tauranga, claimed a hattrick from the second ball of his third over as a right-arm fast bowler.

The Aquinas College-bound Year 7 pupil bowled all the top-order batsmen in his first such feat and only conceded one run off the bat from his allotted five overs with the other six going down as extras.

"It felt great," says Marsh. "I just knew I had to put the ball on the stumps. It was really exciting"

Templar says the bowler's slingy action resembles that of former Australian test strike weapon Jeff Thompson, touted to be the world's all-time fastest when pairing with Dennis Lillee in the 1970-80s.

Needless to say, all the Riverbend camp boys harbour a burning desire to play for the Black Caps - some more than others.